LG'S MACDONALD WINS; ELGIN'S LOOSLIE SETS BEST TIME IN RACE

April 21, 2003 12:00 am

PASCO, Wash.  If anyone had any doubts, La Grande's Skyler MacDonald proved that his 195-foot effort in the state javelin throw earlier this month was no fluke.

Competing at the Pasco Invitational, one of the top prep track meets in the Pacific Northwest, MacDonald went up against 53 Washington and Oregon 3A and 4A throwers to win the javelin event with an effort of 190 feet, 0 inches.

MacDonald bounced back from a sub-par performance Friday. He won the javelin at a meet Friday in Boardman, but coach Joe Sandoz said the senior wasn't satisfied with his 172-foot throw at Riverside. He thought it was important for MacDonald to bounce back.

"After that effort Friday, he was not happy with himself," Sandoz said. "He said things are going to be different' at Pasco."

Elgin's Amber Looslie also put in a spectacular effort in Pasco in the 800-meter run.

Looslie already had the top 800-meter run at the 1A/2A level with a time of 2:21.4 that she posted earlier this season.

Looslie ran a race of 2:18.57 at Pasco, which, according to the latest available results from OregonLive.com is the top girls 800-meter time in the state at any level (4A, 3A, 2A/1A).

"She exceeded expectations," said Elgin coach Mike Somnis. He said it was good for Looslie to go up against the "best of the best" runners in the Pacific Northwest. He thinks she posted such a good time primarily because she was being pushed by top runners.